Fighting to bolster their South-West Conference playoff hopes, Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team members may have missed out on an opportunity in a 67-59 loss to visiting Pomperaug of Southbury, on February 9. In the process, however, the Nighthawks perhaps lifted their confidence for when they head into the state playoffs.

Newtown chipped away at a double-digit deficit, eventually getting it down to just two points early in the fourth quarter, before succumbing to Pomperaug, led by Will McDonald and his 28 points.

The Hawks gave the SWC Colonial Division-leading Panthers a scare to no avail.

“When they needed a basket they answered. Every time, they answered,” Newtown Coach Tim Tallcouch said.

The Nighthawks fell to 9-8 overall and 4-6 in the conference; Pomperaug improved to 14-3 and 8-2.

Pomperaug led 34-23 at halftime.

Newtown began the second half on a 6-0 run chock full of highlights: A great play by Nick Weiland in which he saved his own knock-away while leaping out of bounds near midcourt, and managed to keep the ball in play, leading to Evan Eggleston’s fast-break basket; and Todd Petersen’s steal, full-court drive, and slam dunk, making it 34-29.

The Panthers answered with an 8-0 run to push the lead to 13, and went ahead by as many as 15, when it was 47-32 with 2:10 to go in the stanza.

Newtown ended the third quarter with an 8-0 run of its own, sparked by a pair of Riley Ward 3-pointers. It was 47-40 Panthers heading to the fourth.

Robert DiSibio’s step-back 3-pointer opened the final frame scoring, making it 47-43, but McDonald countered with one of his five shots from downtown at the other end to reinstate the seven-point advantage.

A Disibio 3-pointer got Newtown within 50-48 with 6:04 to play.

McDonald mirrored at the other end. His long-range shot swirled around the rim before falling through.

Riley Ward’s drive and score made it 53-50 just before the middle stages of the quarter, but Newtown got no closer as the Panthers went on a 6-0 run before the teams traded hoops down the stretch.

“We didn’t give up. We competed. I’m very proud of these kids for coming out in the second half. We challenged them and they responded,” Tallcouch said.

Tallcouch credited the Panthers for overcoming Newtown’s defensive scheme switches, whether it was man-to-man or zone.